LAKEWOOD - The township's public works director will take over the job of municipal manager after the sudden resignation of Thomas Henshaw earlier this week, officials said.

Patrick Donnelly was appointed Friday morning to assume the township's top administrative job, Mayor Ray Coles said. Also Friday, the township released a copy of a severance agreement that includes a $327,000 payment to Henshaw in exchange for his agreement not to sue the township and not discuss his resignation.

Donnelly's salary details still are being worked out, Coles said. Donnelly, 37, was hired to lead the township's public works department in April 2016, and in that role was paid a $140,000 salary. He previously worked as superintendent of public works in Little Egg Harbor.

"I greatly appreciate this community," Donnelly said of Lakewood. "Since day one there’s been an outpouring support from this community."

Donnelly was selected because of his leadership experience, his understanding of Lakewood, and his relationships with community and volunteer groups in the township, Coles said. Donnelly has overseen the smooth growth and operation of the township's public works department, Coles said.

"Come November and December, in past years I’d be terrified of the winter coming and what happened when it snows," Coles said. "These past years, 9 of 10 comments have been positive."

Now, "most problems don't even get to my desk," the mayor said.

Henshaw had worked for the township for about three years before his abrupt resignation Wednesday. Township officials and Henshaw have declined to comment on the reason for the departure.

However, a township source, who was not authorized to speak to the media on the resignation, said the resignation stemmed from a misunderstanding. Henshaw said he thought township staff was being asked to improperly delete emails, according to the source. Coles confirmed a recent discussion about email retention policies after the township received a records request for 10 years worth of emails, but said he did not ask anyone to delete messages.

Henshaw's severance agreement, released after the Asbury Park Press filed a public records request Friday, describes his resignation as "amicable."

Henshaw will be paid $276,965, equal to his salary for this year and through the end of 2019, plus $50,590 for unused leave, according to the agreement. He will continue to receive health benefits through the end of 2018 and Medicare supplement benefits until the end of 2019, according to the township.

The agreement says Henshaw cannot sue the township or talk to the press or others in a way that would "adversely effect" the township's business or reputation.

Coles, who had described Henshaw as a friend, said Henshaw's resignation made this week one of the toughest in the 17 years Coles has been involved in township government.

"I’m grateful for the service that Tom did for the town those years," he said.